Responsible practices of operators: what a casino is obliged to do
Introduction
Australian gambling operators have a licence duty not only to offer entertainment but also to minimise harm. Below is a complete list of practices that every online and terrestrial casino should implement and maintain without exception.
1. Self-limiting tools
1. Deposit, rate and loss limits
Players can set daily/weekly/monthly replenishment limits themselves, the size of one bet and the total net loss.
Changing the limits from below does not take effect instantly (usually 24 hours of "quarantine").
2. Timeouts and reality checks
Timeout (5-60 minutes) is activated with one click and blocks access without the possibility of cancellation.
Reality checks pop up after a configurable interval (15-60 min) with time and loss information.
3. Self-exclusion
Short-term (30-90 days), long-term (6-12 months) and indefinite.
Be sure to integrate with the national BetStop registry and local operator systems.
2. Information Support Responsibilities
1. Risk warnings and information windows
Negative expectation warnings before each new game or when the bet increases.
Loss windows when a predefined loss threshold is reached.
2. Responsible Play section on the website
Description of all available tools: limits, timeout, self-exclusion, links to support services.
Current instructions for registering with BetStop.
3. Help Desk Links and Contacts
Gamblers Help (1800 858 858), BeGambleAware, local hotlines and Anonymous Players groups.
"Need Help?" buttons in the interface.
3. Technical and marketing limitations
1. Blocking marketing mailings
Automatic removal from mail, SMS and push lists after self-exclusion.
Sending an e-mail with a reminder of the responsible game tools during registration.
2. Advertising control
Compliance with time limits on TV and online advertising (not allowed in children's time).
Each ad has a risk warning and a link to Gamblers Help.
3. Transactional monitoring
Tracking repeated replenishments in a short period (signal to the operator's initiative to offer self-exclusion).
Threshold notifications to internal analysts about suspicious behavior patterns.
4. Personnel training and control
1. Mandatory employee training
Courses on recognizing signs of game addiction and algorithms for interacting with problem players.
Regular trainings (at least once a year) and knowledge assessment.
2. Intervention procedures
When identifying a client with signs of risk - offering self-exclusion, limits or psychological assistance.
Document these interactions in CRM.
5. Reporting and auditing
1. Regulatory reporting
Quarterly and annual reports to ACMA and AUSTRAC: number of self-excluded, active limits, incidents.
2. Independent audit
Verification of responsible play control systems by third parties at least once a year.
3. Publishing statistics
The operator's website contains aggregated data on complaints, the number of locks and refusals to pay.
6. Integration with external resources
1. BetStop
A single self-exclusion request applies to all operators.
Automatic synchronization within 24 hours.
2. Third-party blockers
Recommendations for players to use Gamban, BetBlocker, GamBlock.
Instructions for configuring DNS filters and hosts file.
Conclusion
A licensed casino in Australia must provide a multi-layered system of protection: financial limits, technical barriers, information windows, staff training and strict reporting. Only when these obligations are fully fulfilled can the operator be considered responsible and safe for the players.
Australian gambling operators have a licence duty not only to offer entertainment but also to minimise harm. Below is a complete list of practices that every online and terrestrial casino should implement and maintain without exception.
1. Self-limiting tools
1. Deposit, rate and loss limits
Players can set daily/weekly/monthly replenishment limits themselves, the size of one bet and the total net loss.
Changing the limits from below does not take effect instantly (usually 24 hours of "quarantine").
2. Timeouts and reality checks
Timeout (5-60 minutes) is activated with one click and blocks access without the possibility of cancellation.
Reality checks pop up after a configurable interval (15-60 min) with time and loss information.
3. Self-exclusion
Short-term (30-90 days), long-term (6-12 months) and indefinite.
Be sure to integrate with the national BetStop registry and local operator systems.
2. Information Support Responsibilities
1. Risk warnings and information windows
Negative expectation warnings before each new game or when the bet increases.
Loss windows when a predefined loss threshold is reached.
2. Responsible Play section on the website
Description of all available tools: limits, timeout, self-exclusion, links to support services.
Current instructions for registering with BetStop.
3. Help Desk Links and Contacts
Gamblers Help (1800 858 858), BeGambleAware, local hotlines and Anonymous Players groups.
"Need Help?" buttons in the interface.
3. Technical and marketing limitations
1. Blocking marketing mailings
Automatic removal from mail, SMS and push lists after self-exclusion.
Sending an e-mail with a reminder of the responsible game tools during registration.
2. Advertising control
Compliance with time limits on TV and online advertising (not allowed in children's time).
Each ad has a risk warning and a link to Gamblers Help.
3. Transactional monitoring
Tracking repeated replenishments in a short period (signal to the operator's initiative to offer self-exclusion).
Threshold notifications to internal analysts about suspicious behavior patterns.
4. Personnel training and control
1. Mandatory employee training
Courses on recognizing signs of game addiction and algorithms for interacting with problem players.
Regular trainings (at least once a year) and knowledge assessment.
2. Intervention procedures
When identifying a client with signs of risk - offering self-exclusion, limits or psychological assistance.
Document these interactions in CRM.
5. Reporting and auditing
1. Regulatory reporting
Quarterly and annual reports to ACMA and AUSTRAC: number of self-excluded, active limits, incidents.
2. Independent audit
Verification of responsible play control systems by third parties at least once a year.
3. Publishing statistics
The operator's website contains aggregated data on complaints, the number of locks and refusals to pay.
6. Integration with external resources
1. BetStop
A single self-exclusion request applies to all operators.
Automatic synchronization within 24 hours.
2. Third-party blockers
Recommendations for players to use Gamban, BetBlocker, GamBlock.
Instructions for configuring DNS filters and hosts file.
Conclusion
A licensed casino in Australia must provide a multi-layered system of protection: financial limits, technical barriers, information windows, staff training and strict reporting. Only when these obligations are fully fulfilled can the operator be considered responsible and safe for the players.
